Page 92 of A Trial of Fate

“No, you’re not,” he replied, tilting his head a little to peek at me. “We are both naked aside from our undergarments, and you have your body wrapped around mine. I would say this is very unladylike behavior.”

“Hard to accomplish a devilish act in this position, though,” I added, blushing.

He chuckled, closing his eyes and leaning back against me a little more. “You’d be surprised what can be accomplished in positions such as this.”

I was sure my heart skipped a beat as a low pulsing sensation began to throb in my middle, very aware of every area I was touching Daxton.

“Why didn’t you want me here tonight?” I asked.

Daxton shifted against my hold, adjusting himself so he could turn his body to face me. “I didn’t want you to seemelike this. After what I had to do in the meeting, I was… ashamed.”

“You were ashamed of kissing Minaeve?”

“Not too fast,” he interjected, with the dimple on his right cheek making an appearance above his trimmed beard. “It’s my turn.” I squeezed him tightly around the waist with my thighs to ensure he knew I didn’t appreciate him cutting me off. But I would play by the rules for now. “Why were you tense a moment ago? Is healing me straining you?”

“Ah, ah, one question.”

“Fine,” he said with a hint of a smirk. “What were you thinking a moment ago?”

A strange, comforting feeling came over me, and I knew that he was genuinely asking out of concern for my well-being. “I was reliving your kiss with Queen Minaeve, and it infuriated me all over again.” I had no reason to lie to Daxton. A big part of me wanted to be honest and open with him.

“Interesting,” he replied, giving no further insight into what hewas thinking. “All right, your turn.”

“To follow up on my previous attempt… What were you ashamed of?”

Daxton braced himself as he prepared to answer. “I have deep scars on my body and soul, Skylar. They are from various battles of defeat and victory as a warrior, but others run deeper than just the surface of my skin. Minaeve is the high queen, but I do not willingly follow her rule. She has done things to me that I won’t burden you with right now… but understand I was ashamed to willingly give in to her carnal desires and to kiss her… in front of you.”

“I see.” I honestly had no clue what that all meant, so I donned the best poker face I could manage.

“Is healing me straining you?” he quickly asked.

“A bit, yes. You are very powerful, and it’s obvious the queen siphoned too much from you. I’m managing at this slow rate, but when the food arrives, I won’t apologize for a lack of manners and scarf down every last morsel.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” Daxton seemed amused, and it put me at ease. “I did it for you.”

I stilled for a moment before asking, “Kissing Minaeve?”

“Yes.” Daxton nodded.

“Why?”

“Because she was hurting you, and she was seconds away from killing those you loved. I knew there was no other way to distract her.”

Before I could ask another question, Castor entered with a tray full of food. My eyes widened, and I swear my stomach rumbled loud enough to be heard across the entire pack lands.

“Seems like I came back at just the right time,” Castor said as he approached Daxton’s bedside. “Everything simmer down?” The question was directed at his brother.

“Yes, and I believe you have used enough energy to heal me for the night, Spitfire.” Daxton moved to unlatch the blanket and sit up on his own.

I felt myself lean in toward him, and he stopped. His hand lingered on my bare leg, sending goosebumps across my entire body. He glanced over his shoulder, giving me a longing look that made me regret healing him so quickly. My heart rate sped up as he looked at me with that special spark in his eye. I didn’t know what to do, so I shifted the blankets to cover me, pretending the goosebumps were from a cold draft in the room.

“I forgive you for earlier, Skylar. You didn’t know…” Daxton said quietly. “Thank you for apologizing. I appreciate it.”

I was speechless, probably for the first time in my entire life. I knew asking about it again would only upset him, so I let it be. I hoped he knew that if he wanted to talk, I would listen. I might not have known then how he felt toward her, but I did now.

Castor placed the tray of food in front of me, and my attention turned to the delectable treats that would soon fill my belly. I devoured a small loaf of bread with meats and cheese while Daxton walked around the room. He rolled his thick shoulders, one now sporting a new decorative tattoo, flexing cords of muscles along his back and twisting to bend over to reach his toes. He performed slow, methodical movements to test his mobility, and I couldn’t tear my eyes off him, awe-struck by how aroused I was by just watching him move around the room. Denying that I was attracted to him was no longer a fight I could win.

Daxton paused in the middle of his exercises and slowly turned toward me, lightly sniffing the air.

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